Date of Award

1-1-2023

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

College/School/Department

School of Public Health

Content Description

1 online resource (ix, 123 pages)

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Julia Hastings

Committee Members

Kajal Lahiri, Pinka Chatterjee, David Holtgrave

Keywords

Asian Indian, Culture, Health Education, Reproductive Health, Sexual Health, Women, South Asian American women, Transcultural medical care, Sexual health, Reproductive health

Subject Categories

Health and Physical Education

Abstract

Asian Indian Americans (AIA) represent the least understood ethnic minority regarding sexual health practices in the United States and the fastest growing population among all Asian groups. Public health practitioners face gaps in understanding communication styles and perceptions concerning sexual and reproductive health within the AIA community. Current researchers strongly associate transparency and openness in parent-child relationships as attributable to better and healthier sexual attitudes and choices in young adults (Romo et al., 2011). Sexual and reproductive health information traditionally stems from one's parents. Little is known about parent-child communication regarding sexuality and reproductive health within the Asian Indian community other than the normative stance is to not discuss it. A qualitative approach was utilized to collect interview data from 22 Asian Indian American Women (AIAW) regarding communication and perception of sexual reproductive health. Qualitative questions, informed by culture were asked, and by extension, are intended to inform practice. Interview data was analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. The findings revealed how sociocultural and religious factors have influenced preventative health care utilization (i.e., cervical cancer screening via pap smears). Cultural motivations drove knowledge, perception, communication, and sexual and reproductive healthcare utilization. The findings indicated the necessity for public health professionals to be trained in Asian Indian sociocultural factors and how they influence sexual reproductive health behavior to increase healthcare utilization and develop culturally appropriate and targeted interventions. The results also pointed to low levels of communication and deprioritization of female sexual reproductive health in the AIA home.

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